Nugent and colleagues were able to calculate the time of the blast to within 20 minutes, allowing them to fine tune some models of supernovae and dismiss others.

First confirmation

Type 1A supernovae are exploding stars characterised by an absence of hydrogen, the most abundant element in the Universe. They're thought to be caused by the explosion of white dwarfs that is part of a binary system, drawing matter from the companion star. But this is the first confirmation of that theory.

As the white dwarf accumulates matter, it eventually reaches about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, and then suddenly explodes, ripping itself apart.

Being able to study the supernova so early, allowed Nugent and colleagues to confirm the progenitor star was a white dwarf.

They also found the explosion converted large amounts of carbon and oxygen into heavier elements such as nickel.

"A shock wave rips through and ejects the material in a bright expanding photosphere," says Nugent. "Much of the brightness comes from the heat of the radioactive nickel as it decays to cobalt."

"Light also comes from ejecta being heated by the shock wave, and if this runs into the companion star it can be reheated, adding to the luminosity."

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